Measure



(No Model.)

C. E. BRADLEY. MEASURE.

.'No. 55.8.715. l Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

Fig. 1.

CLARENCE E. BRADLEY, OF MANKATO, MINNESOTA.

MEASURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.1558,715, dated April 21, l1896. Application tiled March 30, 1895. Serial No. 543,789. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, CLARENCE E. BRADLEY, of Mankato, county of P lue Earth, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Measures, of which the following is a specification. 4

My invention relates to measures, particularly for measuring liquids, and the object I have in view is to provide a combined measure and funnel by means of which the liquid in the measure may be easily and quickly transferred from the measure to a jug` or other receptacle having a small orifice.

M y invention consists generallyin the cour bination of a measure having a funnel-shaped bottom, a cover or stopper for closing the oriiice of the same, and means in connection with said cover for opening or closing it at will, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a measure embodying my invention, a portion of the same being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the lower end of the funnel-shaped bottom, showing the' cover or stopper closed.

In the drawings, 2 represents the main portion of the measure of any suitable size and shape and made of any suitable material, preferably sheet metal, and having its side walls spaced to indicate pints, quarts, and gallons or fractions thereof.

The measure is provided with a concave or conical bottom 3, having the central downwardly-extending part 4, through which the liquid passes into the jug or other receptacle. The extreme lower end of the part 4 is provided with a lug 5, to which is pivoted the stopper or cover G, which is adapted to tit Closely in the opening in the lower end of the part 4. The stopper or cover is arranged to move freely up and down on its pivot, and is provided with a lug 7, to which is pivoted one end of a link 8, having its opposite end lpivoted to a vertically1novable rod or wire which is arranged to move up and down freely in a guide 10, secured to the lower end of the part 4t and extending up to the top of the measure in close proximity to the wall thereof. The part 2 is provided at one side with a handle 11, and within the handle and close to the wall of the measure is provided a closed portion 12, having an opening in its top and bottoni to receive the vertically-movable rod 9. Coiled about the rod 9, within the part 12, is a wire spring 13, having its lower end secured to the lower end of the closed portion and its opposite end secured to a collar or ring 1I, that is carried by the rod f) and secured thereto in any desired position. Near the upper end of the rod or wire 9 I provide a lug or projection 15, which, when the rod is pressed down to open the cover, engages the handle at the upper end of the closed portion 12 and at the edge of the slot in the upper end thereof and' prevents the cover from closing. The top of the rod or wire 9 is provided with a cap 1G to beV pressed upon by the thumb when it is desired to compress the spring and open the stopper-cover- The opening at the upper end of the portion 12 is larger than the rod 9 and permits a lateral movement thereof, so that the lug or projection maybe thrown into engagement with the portion of the handle at one side of the opening or disengaged therefrom by a simple movement of the thumb.

The operation of the device is as follows:V

The eover-stopper is normally held closed by the spring 13, and after filling the measure with the desired amount of liquid the lower end of the part 4 is inserted in the orifice of the jug or other receptacle, and by pressing down on the rod 9 the cover will be opened and the liquid permitted to flow out through the bottom of the measure. The cover or stopper is preferably made of pressed metal, so that when it is forced into the lower end of the part 4 it will form a close joint therewith and be sufficiently tight to prevent the escape of any of the liquid until. it is desired to empty the measure. The lug 15 being in engagement with the handle at the upper end of the portion 12 holds the cover or stopper open until the rod is thrown in the opposite direc-tion, when the spring throws the rod up to its normal position and closes the cover.

While I have shown a measure provided with the funnel-shaped bottom, I do not con- Iine myself to this exact construction, as the measure may be readily adapted for use as a dry measure by enlarging the opening inthe bottom and provid'ipga simple hinged cover IOO in place of the stopper above described. It isA also obvious that the rod 9 may be carried up at any other point outside of the measure than that shown, but it is more convenient to arrange it as above described in order to bring the upper end of the rod within easy reach of the thumb.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentv A measure comprising the upper or main portion 2, the conical portion 3, forming the bottom thereof, said portion 3 having an opening in its lower side, the part 4 extending downward from said opening, the hinged stopper 6 for closing the lower end of said part 4:, a handle 11 secured to the side of said main portion, said handle being provided with openin gs in its upper and lower side, the guide 12 between said openings, the rod 9 arranged to operate therein, the link connecting the lower end of said rod 9 and said stopper, the coil-spring 13 arranged within said guide 12 and having one end connected to said handle and the opposite end to said rod, and said rod being also provided with a lug or offset 15 for holding said stopper open when said spring is under compression, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony .whereof I have hereunto set o In presence of- C. G. IIAWLEY, RICHARD PAUL. 

